Box covering machine



Feb. 20, 1945. w. B. BETTS 2,369,940

BOX COVERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 92 gym/"m f Q wnmam asrz'r'rs Feb. 20, 1945.?

B. BETTS BOX COVERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 game/whor ILLIfiM a. BETT Feb. 20,1945. w. B. BETTS BOX COVERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27. 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 33mm WILLIAM B. BET'IS NON mN Feb. 20, 1945. w. B. BETTS 2,369,940

BOX COVERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 "N 6 m n W. fl w 3 H 4 2 w M n" 3 MUM l u l |4 l blkl I l H Ml l5 TPHWIHU in UAHMH O .I H M & H. M H O 6 a 4 w m o n "M 4 M 4 3 l. W n n 3 a w 3 w w M M a 5 5 I W a nu 6 w m M H 6 n w a. B 7 M 2 H 2 .M n 3 in w r, 1 7 IV\\\ 2 6 6 l\ 1 w a a 2 w 2 o s z a 5 7 4 @m. v 2 v w WILLI M aaaaz'r'rs Feb. 20, 1945. VV.VB. BETTS 2,369,940

BOX COVERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet e i i /25 "rm m 15TETH Feb. 20, 1945. w. B. BETTS BOX COVERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1941 I 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 WILLIAM a. BET Ts Patented Feb. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOX COVERING MACHINE William B. Betts, Binghaxnton, N. Y. Application October 27, 1941, Serial No. 416,749

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to box covering pre-cut blanks for each size of box, and have often been slower than the lid-covering machines with which they are used in conjunction.

The principal purpose which this invention attains is the provision of a wholly automatic box covering machine which will have a capacity at least equal to that of its companion lid-covering machine.

A further important object is to provide a machine which will use a continuous strip or roll of covering paper or other material. A related object is to provide a cutting mechanism which will sever the strip stock in predetermined lengths variably controlled by the periphery of the box being covered.

An additional object of importance is satisfied nection with the accompanying drawings, in

by the novel clamping device which has been provided for grasping the-inside corners of boxes supplied to the machine, and releasing the same upon completion of the covering procedure. 'The utility of this clamping device has been increasedby providing special adjustments for the accom modation of boxes of different sizes and propor tions.

As a still further principal object it islintended to provide end and sidewiping mechanisms for laying the extending marginal portions of the cover strip over the bottom of the box and with a single compound motion inwardly and upwardly to fold' the edge portions projecting beyond the top of the box and apply them to the inner sides thereof. Morespecifically, the invention has for which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the complete ma chine of this invention; a

Fig. 2 is an end elevation to a larger scale showing particularlythe strip feeding and cutting mechanism;

' Fig. 3 illustrates in elevation one of the adjustable clamping devices engaging a box; as seen on the plane indicated 3-3 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 represents a vertical section taken on line -l4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 isa fragmentary enlarged section taken along line 55 of Fig. 3 and shows the cam operating means for the clamping device; Fig. 6 is a vertical section along the line 6--6 of Fig. 1 illustrating one of the side wiping devices for the box covering;

Fig. 7 shows in plan view the wiping device of Fig. 6;

Fig.8 illustratesby an enlarged vertical section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 further details of the wiping device;

Fig.9 is a partial vertical section at line 9-9 of Fig. '7 showing a further detail of the wiping 4 mechanism;

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 9 but illustrates the parts in a difierent operating position; r

Fig. 11 isa section taken on line ll-ll 0 Fig. 8 showing further the relation of the wiping respective box blanks at each station of the machine; I I

Fig, 14 represents a section on line l4-'l4 of Fig. 12 viewed .in the opposite direction from Fig. 13; g

Fig. 15 is a vertical section on line I5--|5 of Fig. 12 showing the combined cam and gear element;

Y Fig. 16 represents anend viewof the stationary camdisc of Figs. 12.13, and 14;

Fig. 1'7 shows by an enlarged transverse section on line I'll'l of Fig. 1 the cam means fo extending the box clamping devices; and

Fig- 18 shows in a similar section on line'il 8-4 8 of Fig.1 the corresponding means for retracting these clamping devices to release the boxes after they have been covered.

Before proceeding with the detailed description, attention is called to the fact that the paper or like boxesshown in position at the different stations of the illustrated machine are square ones in outline with sides of less height than length; and they are open at the tops toward the center of the machine. Each is covered laterally by a rectangular strip of somewhat greater width than the height of the sides so as to provide top and bottom marginal extensions which are folded over at the corners and adhesively secured to the box without cutting.

To facilitate an understanding of the relatedfunctions of the machine of this invention, a. very general outline of operation will now be stated.

OUTLINE or OPERATION As the uncovered boxes are fed to the machine, they are in turn gripped securely by a clamping device, which is automaticallyexpanded within each of them, and then moved stepwise through a circumferential series of stations for covering.

From the clamping station A, the box blank progresses to a wrapping station BWhere its circumferential movement is again suspended and it is turned approximately one andzone-quarter times with its clamping device so as to wrap a length of adhesive coated paper completely around its four sides with a substantial overlap. After this wrapping, the paper is severed and the supply withdrawn; and th box then advances .to the next station.

.At this point, which will be termed a side and edge wiping station C, the projecting marginal portions of adhesive coated paper on opposite sides of the box are bent horizontally by yielding wipin members and the marginal portions adjacent the corresponding top edges are secured face-to-face to the innersurface of thebox.

An end and edge wiping station D next receives the box, andwiper members there fold. over and inturn the remaining opposite marginal portions in the same manner as at the preceding station.

Finally, the box advances to'an unclampi-ng i station Ewhere' it is discharged from the machineand removed in any desirable way.

It will be understood that the instrumentalities at all stations are operated simultaneously when the boxes arestopped and that all box-holding or clamping devices are rotated or advanced one step in unison after completion of each cycleof station operations.

Referring to the drawings; a spaced pan of vertical framesZB and 22' (Figs. 1 and 2) connected by outwardly disposed transverse members, such as 24, horizontally support a rotatable shaft 26 to which are keyed five, uniformly spaced and identical, radial arms 28 through. a, central; spider 29. These arms 28, which rotate in a vertical plane between the frames 20 and 22, each carries at its outer end, a box clamping device 30 engaging the inside corners of the boxes well below the edges defining the open side of each, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

THE CLAMPING DEVICE Figs. 3, 4, and illustrate one of the clamping devices 30 which has four similar fingers or rods 32 extending at right angles to each other in the same general plane with an integral, vertical box-engaging strip. 33 at its'outer end, and pref-.- era bly round in cross section. 'Ihefingers 32am extended and retractedjwith respectatoa common:

center by a rotatable cam plate 34 having a curved slot 36 for each finger.

A four-armed spider formed by a pivoted crossed pair of interfitting arms 31 and 38 having a round rod 40 at the two ends of each arm carrying a sleeve 42 supports the fingers 32 reciprccably. The sleeve 42 is provided with a lug 44 slida bly receiving one of the fingers 32 and having a set screw 46 for selectively adjusting the effective length of each finger. Each sleeve 42 is normally held in its outermost position by a suitably seated compression spring 48, and has a cam follower pin 50 projecting from its inner end and extending within one of the inwardly spiralled cam slots 36.

The fingers 32, as seen in Fig. 5, are predetermined in their extendedpositions in relation to the cam plate by an underlying strip 52 secured to the spider arms 31 and 38 and having a longitudinal slot 54 at each end receiving a clamping. screw 56. formed to provide a pivot for and retain the adjacent endsv of a pair of. tie strips 58' connected by their other respective ends to adjacent fingers 32; 32 by a pivot screw 60 also holdings. stop collar 62. on the rod 40 abutting the sleeve 42' of each. The adjustment shown permits all of the cam follower pins 50' to reach the outerlimits ofthe cam slots 36 to produce a right-angled relation of the fingers 32 for engagement witha square box. When the box is an oblong one, however, the angular relation of the diagonals represented by the aligned pairs of fingers 32 is manually changed by moving the commonly pivoted ends: of tie strips 58 inwardly of their slots-54: and clamping them with screws 55 in the required-positions. This will cause the corresponding adjacent pair of cam follower pins 511: to be moved equal distances inwardly of their cam slots 36, thus establishing different initial positions for full extension or clamping engagement. As shown in Fig, 3, spider arm 3] has an angular groove for preventing complete overlapping with spider arm 36.

Each of the arms 28 carrying the clamping devices 30 comprises a. hollow shaft 64 to the outer end of which the spider. arms 3i and38 are attached for relative rotating movement by means such as a screw 66'; and with which the slotted strip 52 may be made. integral.

The outer portion of shaft 64 rotatably supports. a sleeve 58 concentrically and rigidly connected to the 'slottedfcam plate 34' inwardlyol.

strip 52.

Intermediate. the length of shaft 64-, the sleeve 68- has rigidly secured thereto in the manner indicated in Fig. 4, a large cam member 10, of star shape, which will be describedv further, and is held against inward movement on the shaft M by a collar" keyed to that shaft and formed to receive the free" end of sleeve 68';

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that turning of sleeve 68'rin-responseto rotation of cam member 10' will move. slotted cam plate 24 relative to. its follcwer'pinsilafl to retract or permit extension of the setof fingers. 32' which hold'the box.

MEANS FOR PRODUCING STEP-BY-STEP ROTATION or MACHINE Referring to Figs. 12 and 1; a rigid frame attachment 14 provides spaced bearing supports: for

a power take-01f shaft 15 which is: driven constantly by an attached pulley. when the machineis in operation. A conventional intermittent motion drive. such. as a. Geneva wheel 80.

keyed on-the-parallel shaft 26 carrying arms STATION A OPERATION 1 As will be further explained, each'clamping device 30 has discharged a covered box and has its fingers 32 in retracted position when approaching lowermost station A (Fig. 1). Any suitable form of conveying means 82 may be usedto feed 4 boxes to this station where they will be partially'supported by an aligned triangular belt 84,

fully'clamped; This is accomplished by a spaced pair of loose pulleys 86 and 88 defining a conveyor run parallel to the box bottom, and-an apex pulley 90 having a shaft 92 turning loosely and reciprocable in slot means94 to give and take up slack inthe parallel run. The pulleys for belt 84 are'suitably carried by the front frame in the manner shown, and the reciprocating apex pulley 90 may be made sufliciently heavy to produce the desired resistance to depression of the belt by a box, or other well-known biasing means may be employed. I

A fixed stop 96 mounted'on the machine frame andincluding a cam follower roller 98 (Fig. 17) is formed and arranged to engage the cam I0, which is four-lobed, and in response to relative I motion'of the clamping device 30 adjacent Sta- At the lower right of Fig. 2 is a supply magazine I00 for rolls P of covering paper. The roll P on the leftis feeding vertically downward to a guide roller I02, whence 'a horizontal run of paper extends to a parallel guide; roller I04- located toward the front of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, and thence upwardly and over afurther guide roller I06 adjacent an'adhesiveapplying (or activating) cylinder I08. As indicated, the cylinder I08 is rotatably supported in a liquid reservoir'IIO arranged so that the lower part of said cylinder will extend below the surface of the liquid adhesive. v

After the paper leaves the adhesive applying cylinder I08, it is led beneath a still further guide roller I I2, and then in a long vertical reach to a guide roller H4, over which it passes near the top of themachine; thence the paper is led rearwardly to a final guideroller I I6.

' connection I48 atits right or upper end for drivbox at Station B,' and is laterally positioned to avoid interference with the paper, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. l. I

A similarly pivoted and outwardly disposed arm I24 supports in cantilever fashion at its lower extremity a small paper pressing roller I26 which lies in vertical alignment and immediately below the inner feedingroller I 22 when both arms H8 and I24 are advanced against a box. Note is further made that the pair of rollers I20, I22 and the paper pressing roller I26 first act half-way down one side of the box of Fig. 2, and that they yield somewhat in their arcuate paths to accommodate counter-clockwise rotation thereof.

By means to be described, the clamping device 30 carrying a box is given one and onequarter turns at Station B, and a length ,of paper covering corresponding to this peripheral measure and degree of overlapping is severed automatically from the paper supply in a manner which leaves a dangling end below the pair of feeding rollers I 20, I22, according to the dotted position in Fig. 2.

The cycle of operations accomplishing this result comprises gravitational advance of thearm H8 and its pair of feeding rollers I20 and I22 to the side of the box to be covered; a shortly subsequent advance to the same point of the pressin roller I26 on arm I24 upon release to the action of a spring suspended weight I28 connected by a flexible line I30 to the upper part of said arm I24 after passing over a frame-mounted guide pulley I32; withdrawal to original position of the feeding rollers I20 and I22 with the paper web between them; severing of this paper web a definite distance below rollers I20, I22'by swinging of a knife edge I34 pivoted at one side of the paper path; and return of the knife edge I34 and of pressing roller I26 to inoperative position. All

.of these instrumentalities are actuated in timed relation by the continuously turning power takeoff shaft I6 (Fig. 12) in a way which will now be detailed@ i An upwardly extending shaft I36 is supported for rotation in the frame attachment I4, and carries a bevel gear I38 at its lower end in mesh with a bevel gear I40 of equal size keyed to the power take-off shaft 16. Near the top of the machine as seen in Figs. 1 and 12, the upwardly extending shaft I36 drives another pair of similar sized bevel gears I42, I44, the latter of which is keyed to a shaft I46 having a universal joint ing a like shaft I50 rotatably supported in the frame of the machine outwardly of station C. A further universal' joint I52 connects shaft I50 with a stub shaft I54 horizontally supported for connection I to the upper part of said arm I24. Preferably rod I58 is round in cross-sectionfective length of the rod I58 and pulling the arm A depending arm I I8 carries at its lower end a cooperating pair of smallfeeding rollers I20 and I22 between which the free end of the paper sup- I24 clockwise in Fig. 2. This latter motion is induced by a pin I64 rotating with driven shaft I54 and engaging a cam-shaped follower plate I 66 extending vertically and rigidly joined to the reciprocable rod I58. Engagement of the pin I64, which isrotating counter-clockwise with the shaft I54, with the follower plate I66 will swing the biased arm I24 away from the boxand hold itwithdrawnuntil-further .rotationso'f the pin 1:64 releases it gradually. A secondrectangular rod :IEB sliding without turning in frame bracket I155; parallel tolltod .I-58 has a pivoting .and sliding. connection (not shown) similar to. connection :I 61); with swinging arm H 8, and is providedionits outer endiwith a cam-shaped follower plate .Ialtblike 'follower'plate I66. Follower plate. I'lllais' reciprooated periodically by a second pin I-l2,.also rotating counterclockwise with shaft I64, and in 185131871113 parallel to that defined by pm .164, in a .predeterminedly out of phase relation to follower plate I 66 controllingswinging; movementor the pressing roller With reference to. the knife-edge 134, it is noted that a detachable. bracket .IFM. has formed thereon a rearwardly and downwardly inclined bearing journal I 76 for receiving :a crankshaft ":6 to which the lower end of said -knife-edge I'M is secured, as shown-best in Fig. '2. A crank I 80 on the forward end of shaft I18 is pivotally connected to an upwardly extending pitman rod I82 so as to provide a normally downwardly inclined lever for swinging theknife edge I34. Rod I82 extends upwardly to driven shaft I54 and is provided with a pawl hook i3 3 which is arranged to be moved upwardly by periodic engagement with a step I86 :on a circular cam 1B8 carried on the outermostendof shaft I54- This circular cam I88 is laterally enclosed by a pair of flanges I90 and. I-SZspaced a distance sufiicient loosely to receive and guide the rod L82 with a small amount-of lateral movement, as will be :apparent from Fig. 1. A tension spring I194 is attachedto pitman rod I82, below cam I88, to bias it downward and toward the frame bracket. I56.

When the paper covering web is extended laterally between the Fig. 2 dotted position of feeding' rollers I 20, 422 and the pressing roller I 26 positioned against a box, the circular cam I88 will lift pitman rod I182 to swing the knife-edge I34 inwardly and downwardly through the paper web, leaving a short length dangling from rollers I20, I22 for subsequent applying to-a box by pressing roller I26.

After the knife-edge .134 has severedthe pap r web, it will be quickly returned toits inoperative vertical position by spring R94 and the restraint of flanges I96, I62 on the upper end of pitman rod I82.

Box ROTATING .MEANs Consideration will now be given to the means for intermittently connecting the arms 28, each of which carries a-box clamping device 36, to the constantly driven shaft 26 for rotation of the clamped boxes in cooperation with the paper applying roller I26 at Station B, for example. Clutch means designated generally I86 connect the inner ends of shafts 64 to a vertical bevel gear I98 (Figs. 4 and 12) constantly drivenv from shaft I6. Referring to Fig; 12, power take-off shaft 16 carries a small sprocket gear 260, near'its inner end, for driving a chain 282 running over a much larger sprocket gear integral with the adjacent end of a hollow shaft 286 having the previously mentioned bevel gear i913 keyed to its other end. Hollow shaftIZHB of the thus provided speed reduction drive turns freely on the countershaft 2B, and through its bevel gear E93,.

drives five separate bevel pinion gears 208, one for each arm 28, turning freely on the spider 29 joining said arms.

Each clutch means 'I96 coniprises a clutch 81362) onathe base of the :benelpinion-gear .268

ill)

n on

engageab'lebywan opposed clutch face. 2I:2 on a sliding clutch collar 214 splined onto the :shaft 64 which turns the :clamping device 30. A collar: 2'I16 is. secured to thecsame shaft64 in :spaced relation to clutch collar 214 toservezas :a fixed abutment for a coiled: cor'npr-essionv spring 2J8 arranged to urge the clutch faces 2H] and 2I2 into driving engagement.

Spider 23"has a. plurality of integral, laterally offset arms 226 which extend radially and beyond-each of the hevelpinion gears 2.08v to afford a pivotal support for a shifting yoke 222 slotted to receive a pin 22-4 projecting laterally of the sliding clutch collar 2. An inner sleeve 225 is used to secure clampingdevice .36 :to spider 29, as

shown. The unpivotedend of yoke 222 carries a cam follower in the form of a freely .turning roller 226 having its axis at right angles to the path of thesliding collar 214.

By means of a notched cam diso228. (Figs. 12, 13, 16) coaxial with shafts. 26 and 20-6. maintained stationary by .a bar 229 rigidly secured to frame 23, the clutch. faces 2H] and .2I2 of each clutch means 195 .are periodically engaged to produce rotation of arm 28 when their. roller 2'26 drops into shallow cam notch 230 .or 7231. of arcuate shape, spaced 144 degrees, or twice the spacing of the radial arm '28, and disposed at the rest positions of stations B and'D respectively (Fig. 1.). However, a diametrically opposed projecting pair of identical arcuate segments 232 and 234 mounted on the side of bevel gear I198 are also arranged to act upon rollers 226 to .prevent their dropping into notch 236 or 23.1 atcertain predetermined times, which will "be more fully explained'hereinafter.

STA'EIQN'EC OPERATION Wiping mechanism In connection with the operating means at station 3, reference will be made'to'Figs. 6 to 11 i'nithe following description.

The box supported on arm 28 in Fig. 6 will have'an opposite pair .of sides parallel with the planes of operation of opposed wiping and clamping devices 236 and 2 38. 7 Device 236 rotates about a fixed but adjustable axis 240 and the other device 238 has similar but opposite movement about a fixed axis 212-. The-axis 240 is .defined by a spaced pair of depending bracket supports 2M, 2M (Fig. '7 joined by ahorizontal slide frame 246 supported by a spaced pair of track rods 24'3' and 250 (Fig-'8') Asnindicated, the slide. frame are and pivot axis2 4fli may be adjusted along the track rods 24'8 and 250 and maintained'in adjustment by clamping screws 252.

On the other end of the-box; aa pair of bracket supports 2 55, 254 are provided for the device 238 and are connected fby .a horizontal slide frame 25.6 also provided with clamping screws 253 for use in adjusting :the position of pivot'axis 24.2..

The wiping and clamping-devices 236 and 23.8 are swung and operated about their respective axes 24d and 242 bytmeans of individual reciprocating operatingrods 26!]v and 2162. supported in the frame rn'emberslm and .22 to which the track rods 25%; and'zdil are shownassecured.

An adjustable cross bar 125.4 for device 236. is secured adjustably to operating rod260by means of a clamping screw 12.66, andiausimilar cross bar 268 for device 238- is clampedto operating rod 262 by a screw 210. At opposite ends of cross bar 268 and beyond the extremities of the box, a pair of operating links 212,.and 214 are pivoted. Link 212 is pivotally connected at its other end with a ed to the adjacent end of link 214. In like manner, the device 238 is provided with an identical companion device 286 with pivotal connection to operating link 282. 1

Referring to Figs. 6 and '7, the frame supported shaft I50, which is driven directly and continuously'from the power take-off shaft 16, carries adrive sprocket 288 with a chain 290 arranged to drive. a similar, sprocket 292 on a parallel'countershaft 294. .The shaft 294 is rotatably supported by and between a spaced parallel pairof U- shaped supports and guides 298 and 288, the first for the reciprocable operating rod 260 and the second for the other operating rod 282.

means for producing reciprocating motion of rod 260, operating clamping devices 238 and 236 comprises a circular plate 300 on shaft 284 which plate carries a projecting crank pin 302 engaging a vertical slide plate 303 in support 236. As shown best inFig. 6, the slide plate 303'lias a cam groove 304 receiving the crank pin 302. The other support 298 for the operating rod 262 which actuates clamping .devices 236 and 284 is provided'with a vertical plate 306 similarin all respects to plate 303 and cooperating with a second circular plate 308 on shaft 294 through the means of a crank pin 3l0. While the cam plates 303 and 308 are alike, it is to be noted that they are always oppositely moving. as required for the proper operation of the swinging devices at both ends of the box, and that their respective crank pins 302 and 3l0 are consequently 180 degrees out of phase.

Consideration will next be given to the details of one of the four wiping and clamping devices, all of which are similar in construction and operation. The device 236 comprises a vertical swinging base plate .3l2 which has limited rotation in two directions about the pivot axis 240..

The crank plate 216 referred to previously is pivoted and secured at an intermediate part, by means of a pin'3 l4 carried bythe base plate 3l2. Adjacent the box edge of base plate 312 is a smaller vertically sliding plate 3l6 having an upper guide, slot 3I8 anda. lower guideslot 320 ccoperating with a vertically spaced pair of guiding andretaining pins 322 and 324 on the adjaside face of a box throughout its entire area. and carrying an upper resilient wiper 336 along-its uppermost portion. As shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10,-the upper wiper 336 is formed by a uniformly and closely spaced series of parallel U-shaped spring loops 338 defining a flat lower surface for laying the upper projecting edge. of" the cover paper on the bottom of the box." .A lower resilient wiper 340's formed by a rigid horizontal bar 342 which extends between and connects the lower ends of companion pairs of vertically sliding plates 3I6 and supports a series of vertically extending 'U -shaped spring loops 344. As in the case of upper wiper 336, the loops 344 are parallel and uniformly and closely spaced. 7 Itis the function of the lower resilient wiper to turn the downwardly extending edge of the boxcover inwardly and upwardly so as to fold it and lay it over the top edge of the box and along the inner surface immediately below that edge.

- The flexible nature andv close spacing of the The spring loops 344 make it possiblejfor a wiper of given length to accommodate itselfautomatically to boxes of various dimensions by the simple expedient of fitting either within or without the box at its extremities, and yielding to either one'side or the other without damage to the box.

As each pair of wiping and clamp'ngdevices is swung toward a box about their parallel horizontal axes 240 and 242 "respectively, they will first attain a perpendicular position against the opposite sides of the boxandthe upper and lower extending marginal portions of the cover will be wiped into the horizontal positions indicated in Fig. 10 by the respective wipers. Continued I movementof the crank plates 216 after the base cent face of base plate 3I2. The slide plate 316 I has an outwardly extending apertured lug 326 forming a loop for, sliding and lifting connection with a reduced end 328 on the shorter arm of crank plate 218 (Fig. 9). The movement of crank plate 21Bis controlled and. restrained by an arcuate guide slot 330 concentric with pivot pin 3M and engaged by a guide pin 332 mounted on base plate M2. v

The companion pairs of clamping devices 236-284 and 238-286 have their base plates 3l2 connected together by a transverse plate element 334 formed and arranged to engage the adjacent plates 3|2 can advance no further, will cause the ends 328 of those plates to lift the slide plates 3J6 vertically and relative to the base plate 312 so that the lower resilient wiper 340'wil1 further I fold ,the lower edge extension of the cover'and lay it against the inner surface of the box, as plainly shown in Fig. 9. Note is made that'this final movement of lower wiper 34 0 is also relative to the upper wiper 336 carried by transverse plate element 334. Withdrawal of the wiper'ele-- ments and then of the clamping devices from the box proceeds in exactly reverse order.

' STATION D OPERATION Wiping mechanism When'a box reaches station D (Fig. 1 it is first given a quarter turn by rotation of its supporting arm 28 and by means o'fa universal joint connection 345 to shaft l46,'-a frame supported shaft 346, similar to shaft 150. turned to operate a'sprocket drive 34! identical with that at Station C. The sprocket drive 341 operates a wiping and clamping means 348, just described, for station C, and serving to fold and lay the remaining projecting edgesof the box cover on opposite sides thereof. 1 .3

i STATION E. OPERATION that it can falt from the clamping device 30 when it-s'tops atstation/E,

TIMI-No or "OPERATIONS The timing of the rotation. of the arms, the turning oftlie box clamping devices v(it at certain stations, and the cooperative Operating mecha nisms located at some of the stations represents a very important aspect of the invention, being,

essential to the iull'automatic functioning of the machine. Figs. -1 and 12 to 16 will bereferred to in explaining the .means for achieving the re,- quired' synchroni'sm and coordination.

Drivenzclirectly by continuously turning power pulley 1.8, the toothed wheel 81 turns the fiveslotted Geneva wheel .80 intermittently one-fifth of e-turn .for every complete turn of said pulley [8. This movement, through. shaft 26, advances theclamping. devicesBU-andtheir supported boxes from station-to-station-. During the remaining iour-fiiths of a turn oi power pulley, the Geneva wheel 8.0V remains stationary and the respective station operatingmechanisms are actuated by the driven shaft MS whichturnsat the. same speed as pulley 1.8.

The eighty-tooth bevel gear 1.98 which turns the twenty-tooth clutch pinio-ns 208 of the individuakarms 28.,is driven at one-third the speed of.

pulley 18 through the. sprockets .200 and. 2M.

Atr station E, while the arms 281 are stationary,

pinion208 isgiven. one and one-quarter turns by one of theltwenty-five tooth: segments. of bevel gear M18 =(-Eig.. 15-) whilethe corresponding; clutch means L96 is in driving engagement with armdue ztotheposition of clutch ,roller 226. inarcuate notch-230.. This movement of arm 28, whichnis alsodmparte'd to a box on clamping device 30,.is concurrent with theoperation of the paper applying roller MB and subsequently knife-edge 1.34.; thelatter two instrumentalities complete the operati-ve part ofv their cycle'duringthe dwell of the blies 236, 238 have closed together far enough to interfere with turning. Theavailability of five teeth of bevel gear 198 before clutch roller 226 is removed from the stationary notch 23'lby cam segment 2 32' on the under face ofthis gear produces'therequired turning of arm 28' at stationD.

Asmreviously indicated, the operating mechanismsat stations B, C', and D go'through their cycles continuously; the'cycle of each "starts at thesame time (-Whenthearms28 stop their rotation about the 'axisof shaft 26'), and the respectivecycles are in thedwell oridle phase whenthe arms 28 and' their boxes are advanced from to successive stations.

Obviously, certain components-of the machine ofthis invention, such as. the clamping device and wiping or folding; possess utility in other combinations,.,and: for this *reasonrhave been claimed separatel'yas sub-combinations. It is also to be recognized that the broad principles of this invention can be embodied in a variety'of forms of mechanism other than that. illustratively disclosed, and that the'inventioni'is'not to be limited to ahy specific construct-ion andsarrangement of parts, exceptas may'bere'quired by'thespirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

acne-940 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesisa:

1. A box covering machine comprising a plurality of angularly spaced-box supporting armsrotatable together about a common axis, means for turning said arms atcertain positions in their path of rotation while stationary, means for supplying covering paper to a3 box while its arm is turning at one of said positions, means for cutting the covering paper thus supplied after the said arm has turned a predetermined amount and means operable on differentsizes of boxes for inwardly folding upwardly and downwardly extending marginal portions of the paper box covering at"asucceeding'position, said foldingmeans comprising a bar supporting arow of elements widely spaced relative to their width, said elements being adapted to receive opposite edge-portions or? a box therebetween.

2. A b'0X C0V81 iI-lg machine comprisin a plurality of angularly spacedbox supporting arms rotatable together about a common axis, means for rotating said arms" intermittently about said axis, means forturning'sa'id arms at certain positionsin their path of rotation while stationary, means-for applying covering paper to the: sides of a'boX-while its arm isturningat one of said positions, means for cutting the covering paper thus supplied after the said-arm has turned apre' determined amount: and means operable on difierentsizes of-boxes for inwardly folding upwardly and downwardly extending marginal portions of the paper boxcovering at a succeedingposition, said folding meanscomprising a bar supporting a row of elements widely spaced: relative to their width, said elements being adapted to receive opposite 'cdge portions of abox 'thorebetween,

3. A box covering machine comprising five arms connected together and equally spacedangularly, a boxclamping device-at the outer end-of each arm;mea-ns for*rotating said arms stepwise about a horizontal axis, means for turning said arms and clamping devices at certain positions while at rest, means for applying: acontinuous paper suppl'yto a cl'amped box at one of said positions, paper cuttingmeans at said last-mentioned position operable when the box has been'pa rtly covered, means forwiping down extending'marginal portions-of the paper box covering at a succeeding position, and means for wiping down other extending poi-tionsof said covering-at a further succeeding position; said wiping down means being constructed and arranged to operate on different sized boxes andeomprising a bar having thereon a row-0f elementswidely spaced relative to their width, said elements being adapted to receive opposite ed'geportions of a box therebetween.

4. A box covering machine comprising a plurality of arms connected t'ogether'and equally spaced anigularly, a box clamping device constructed andarrangedto engage theinsidg of a I box and mounted'at the'outer end of each arm,

means for rotating said arms stepwise about a fixed axis, means for turning saidarms and clampingdevices at certain positions" while at rest, means for applying acontinuous paper supply to the sides of aclamped box at one of said positions, paper cutting means at said last-men tioned position operable when the-box: 'has been partly covered; and means Ior'inwardlyfolding upwardly and downwardly extending; marginal portions of the-parper-box covering-eta succeeding position, said folding means being-constructed portions of a box therebetween.

5. A box covering machine comprising five arms connected together and equally spaced angularly, an expansible box clamping device constructed and arranged to engage the inside of a box and mounted at the outer end of each arm, means for rotating said arms stepwise about a horizontal axis, means for turning said arms and clamping devices at certain. positions while at rest, means for applying a continuous paper supply to the sides of a clamped box at one of said positions, paper severing means at said last-mentioned position operable when the box hasbeen partly covered, means for wiping down extending marginal portions of the paper box covering at a succeeding position, means for wiping down other extending portions of said covering at a further succeeding position, and means for giving each arm and clamping device a partial turn at said further succeeding station and before operation of the wiping down means said wiping down means being constructed and arranged to operate on difierent sized boxes and comprising a bar having thereon a row of elements widely spaced relative to their width, said elements being adapted to receive opposite edge portions of a box therebetween.

6. A box covering machine comprising a spaced pair of vertically extending frame members, five arms connected together and equally spaced angularly, an expansible box clamping device constructed and arranged to engage the inside of a box and mounted at the outer end of each arm, means for rotating said arms stepwise about a horizontal axis supported between said frame members, means for turning said arms and clamping devices at certain positions while at rest, means for applying a continuous paper supply to the sides of a clamped box at one of said positions, paper severing means at said last-mentioned position operable when the box has been partly covered, means for wiping down extending marginal portions of the paper box covering at a succeeding position, means for wiping down other extending portions of said covering at a further succeeding position, means for giving each arm and clamping device a partial turn at said further succeeding station and before operation ofthe wiping down means, said paper applying means, paper severing means, and paper wiping means being operable on difierent sized boxes and supported by said frame members outwardly of the arms, and means for operating each clamping device in turn as it rotates with its arm, said wiping means comprising a bar supporting a row of elements widely spaced relative to their width,

said elements being adapted to receive opposite edge portions of a box therebetween.

'7. In a box covering machine, supporting means formed. and arranged to engage the inside of a box, and means for folding and laying the projecting edge of a paper covering wrapped around the box, said folding and laying means including a resilient wiper formed of a plurality of elements spaced widely apart relative to their width and adapted to receive opposite edge portions of different sized boxes therebetween.

8. In a box covering machine, supporting means formed and arranged to engage the inside of a box, and means for folding and laying the projecting upper and lower marginal edge portions of a paper covering applied to a side of the box, said folding and laying means including a pair of relatively movable resilient wipers formed of a plurality of elements spaced widely apart relative to their width and adapted to receive opposite edge portions of different sized boxes therebetween.

9. -In a box covering machine, supporting means formed and arranged to engage the inside corners of an open rectangular box beyond its open edge, and means. for folding and laying the projecting marginal edge portion of a paper covering adhesively applied around the sides of the box, said folding and laying means including a resilient wiper formed of a plurality of spaced 'spring elements of loop shape for operation on different sized boxes, certain of said spring elements receiving opposite edge portions of a box therebetween and all of said spring elements lying in parallel planes perpendicular to the surface to be wiped and parallel to the ends of the box not to be wiped and being widely spaced relative to their width.

10. A resilient wiper for a box covering machine comprising, a bar, and a plurality of uniformly spaced wire loops secured to said bar, for receiving opposite edge portions of different sized boxes therebetween, said loops lying in parallel planes perpendicular to the surface to be wiped and parallel to the ends of the box not to be wiped and being Widely spaced relative to their width.

11. A resilient wiper for a paper box covering machine comprising, a bar, and a plurality of spaced wire loops of U-shap secured to said bar in parallelism to lightly press against the edge portions of a box, and to receive other opposite edge portions of different sized boxes therebetween, said loops being perpendicular to the surface to be wiped and parallel to the ends of the box notto be wiped and being widely spaced relative to their width. 12. A wiper for a paper box covering machine comprising, a bar, and a plurality of uniformly spaced resilient loops secured to said bar in parallel relation and perpendicular to said bar, said loops being adapted to receive opposite edge portions of different sized boxes therebetween, and said bar being parallel to the surface to be wiped and perpendicular to the ends of the box not being wiped, said'loops being widely spaced relative to their width.

13. In a paper box covering machine of the character described, a wiper comprising a series of'spaced and parallel resilient elements, and means for moving the elements of said wiper transversely across an edge of a box, said elements being widely spaced relative to their width and adapted to receive opposite edge portions of different sized boxes therebetween.

14. In a paper box covering machine of the character described, a resilient wiper comprising a bar and a plurality of spaced wire loops, and means for moving said wiper parallel to the plane of a loop and horizontally across an edge of a box and then vertically upward to insert certain of said wiper loops within said box edge and against the inside of said box, whereby an extending marginal portion of covering paper is folded inwardly and laid on the inside surface of the box, said wire loops being widely spaced relative to their width and adapted to receive opposite edge portions of different sized boxes therebetween.

WILLIAM B. BETTS. 

